Even though the Los Angeles Rams were on the doorstep of hosting the NFC Championship Game, there was a clear flaw with their team last season. They lacked playmakers outside of Puka Nacua, which limited the offense significantly.
In Sean McVay’s eight years as the head coach, the Rams have only had one other year where they averaged fewer yards per game than they averaged (331) in 2024. That was the 2022 season where things went off the rails and everyone was hurt in the second half of the year.
It became clear that the offense needed help around Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams and Nacua, and the front office wasted no time making a splash. The team agreed to a two-year, $46 million deal with Davante Adams on Sunday, bringing in one of the top wide receivers on the market.
With Cooper Kupp on his way out of Los Angeles via trade or release, the Rams could use another wide receiver to pair with Nacua. Adams is a terrific fit in L.A., specifically with the offense McVay runs. Even at the age of 32, Adams is still a threat no matter where he lines up on the field.
His route running is among the best of any wide receiver in the league, with eye-popping releases at the line of scrimmage that allow him to create easy separation. According to ESPN, Adams was 14th in separation score last season, showing just how often he got open for his quarterbacks.
Nacua is still the more dangerous player on offense, especially with the ball in his hands, but Adams is an upgrade over Kupp – as hard as that is to hear. He’s a bigger downfield threat at this point in his career, he’s someone who can win against man coverage consistently and his hands are as good as they’ve ever been.
Rams writer Wyatt Miller points out that Adams was in the top 16 of yards per route run against man coverage in 2024, even at the age of 31.
Whether he lines up outside or in the slot, he can beat defenders one-on-one. In the red zone, he’s especially dangerous. With how easily he wins at the line of scrimmage, he can get open to the inside or elevate over a cornerback on an end zone fade (as infuriating as that play can be sometimes).
Adams is the type of receiver who will excel with a quarterback like Stafford. Like Kupp in his prime, Adams is going to get open often and Stafford will hit him more often than not. Stafford is one of the best at manipulating coverages with his eyes, too, which only helps his receivers find openings against zone.
It’s hard not to love this addition for the Rams, even with their recent flops in free agency (Jonah Jackson, Tre’Davious White, Allen Robinson, DeSean Jackson). The only concern is the cost, which comes at $46 million for two years.
“Only” $26 million is guaranteed, so it could wind up being a one-year pact, but even that will be worth it for an offense that needed a receiver like Adams. This could wind up being a home run addition.
Grade: A-
